Chapter 46: Xinyue Community

He grabbed the woman’s arm and exerted some force, then in the next second, he pushed her away forcefully.

When he turned back, he saw Meng Ying holding a small bag, already following the crowd as she walked out, her black skirt swaying. She was accompanied by Zhao Yanjun, and the two were engaged in conversation.

Xu Dian abruptly stood up, not even glancing at Wen Yao, and strode after her.

Wen Yao frowned, grabbing his arm, “Xu Dian!”

Her voice was anxious, raised in pitch.

“Who are you?” Xu Dian pulled his arm back, his expression cold and indifferent.

Wen Yao was stunned for a moment.

“I’m from the Wen family. Didn’t you come to pick me up today?” Wen Yao blinked, somewhat confused. Xu Dian narrowed his eyes, “Oh? The Wen family. I arranged for a driver to pick you up tomorrow, not today. My parents will be waiting for you at home tomorrow. Happy New Year, Miss Wen.”

After speaking, Xu Dian strode toward the figure in black ahead.

Meng Ying only glanced at the woman next to Xu Dian. She was very beautiful, with a face that was highly distinctive—clearly the model who had stood in the center during the final embroidery segment of the show. Now that the show was over, some people were chatting while others were leaving. Meng Ying averted her gaze, picked up her small bag, and left.

As she neared the entrance, she ran into Zhao Yanjun, who softly called out to her. Meng Ying looked up and smiled, greeting her. Just as she finished speaking, a hand grabbed her arm from behind. In the next second, Meng Ying stumbled and was pushed behind the curtain, her back against the wall.

The man pressed closer, gripping her chin and forcing it upward.

Their eyes met.

Xu Dian’s eyes were filled with anger, “Leaving so fast? Didn’t we agree to leave together?”

His jaw was tightly clenched, his handsome face rigid, his presence overwhelming.

He was furious.

Meng Ying relaxed slightly and pushed his shoulder, “The show’s over. Should I just stay?”

Xu Dian’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he almost blurted out, “Do you even have a heart?” Instead, he gritted his teeth and retorted, “So you’re leaving alone?”

“I came alone, so naturally, I’ll leave alone.”

Before she could finish, Xu Dian’s lips pressed against hers. As their lips met, a scream echoed from behind. Meng Ying opened her eyes and looked past Xu Dian’s shoulder.

The female model stood not far away, her face filled with panic and disbelief.

Meng Ying pushed Xu Dian hard.

Xu Dian’s eyes turned cold, his large hand cupping her cheek, tilting her face up as he kissed her fiercely. Meng Ying struggled for a moment before giving up, turning her head slightly to avoid his lips and tongue. Why was he being so rough? She clutched the collar of his shirt and let out a muffled sound. As soon as she did, the man bit her tongue.

“Mmm…”

In the struggle, her tongue was bitten, drawing blood.

Meng Ying frowned and slapped his shoulder hard.

Xu Dian pulled back slightly, his eyes dark as he looked at her.

Their breaths mingled.

Meng Ying said softly, “Is this how you kiss someone?”

She stuck out her tongue to show him.

There was a cut. To her surprise, he leaned down and, in front of everyone, took her tongue into his mouth.

Behind them, another scream erupted.

Meng Ying rolled her eyes and pushed him several times before finally managing to peel him off. His breathing was heavy, his gaze fixed on her.

Her beautiful eyes were clear, devoid of any other emotions. He looked at her for a few moments, a flicker of grievance, frustration, and even a hint of ruthlessness passing through his eyes.

But it quickly dissipated.

Xu Dian grabbed her hand and pulled her out from behind the curtain, “Let’s go home.”

Meng Ying frowned, following him in her high heels. Most of the people from the show had already left, and the black carpet at the entrance bore a few shoe prints.

As they descended the steps, they reached the empty parking lot. A black Mercedes pulled up beside them and stopped. Xu Dian opened the rear door and pushed Meng Ying inside.

Meng Ying had initially planned to call her own ride but decided against it and got in.

Xu Dian followed closely, his tall frame making the space feel cramped as soon as he sat down. Meng Ying glanced out the window and saw the model coming out as well, followed by a woman in a professional suit.

“Xinyue Community,” Xu Dian leaned back slightly, his shirt unbuttoned at the top, revealing a glimpse of his skin. He instructed Jiang Yi.

Jiang Yi started the car.

Xu Dian turned his head to look at Meng Ying.

Meng Ying also leaned back against the seat, her curly hair falling over her shoulders, a few strands resting against the fair skin of her chest.

She didn’t need mascara—her lashes were naturally thick and long. The dim light in the car made her beauty almost intoxicating. As the car passed over two speed bumps, Xu Dian braced his hand on the seat, preparing to lean closer, but unexpectedly, his hand brushed against Meng Ying’s. It was soft, smooth. In the next second, his large hand forcefully intertwined with her slender, delicate fingers, locking them together.

Behind the black Mercedes, a silver Bentley followed—the model’s car. Meng Ying glanced at it for a few seconds before suddenly realizing her hand was being held. She looked down.

In the dim light, Xu Dian’s long, well-defined fingers covered the back of her hand, each knuckle sliding into the gaps between her fingers.

Covering.

Enveloping.

Their fingers interlaced.

Warm, sweet.

Meng Ying watched quietly for a moment.

She and Xu Dian had been dating for over a year, officially a couple. But they had never held hands outside of the bedroom—the most basic intimacy between lovers.

She had skipped straight from the basics to the highest level of intimacy, and now she lingered there. Calmly, she withdrew her hand and placed it on her own thigh.

Caught off guard, Xu Dian froze for a second, then looked over at her.

At that moment, the car pulled up to Xinyue Community. Jiang Yi glanced in the rearview mirror, sensing the tense atmosphere in the back seat. Still, he unlocked the doors. Meng Ying reached to open the car door, but the silver Bentley had also pulled up, stopping not far from her door. Even without the window rolled down, she could see the model inside looking over.

Meng Ying turned back, grabbed Xu Dian’s shirt collar, and pulled him close.

Xu Dian, who had a cigarette dangling from his lips, raised an eyebrow. “Hmm?”

“Your admirer followed you. Don’t come up with me this time. We’ll meet another day.” Meng Ying flicked his collar with her fingertip, then turned and walked away without waiting for his reaction.

Xu Dian quickly realized what was happening and got out of the car, slamming the door behind him as he followed her.

Meng Ying entered the residential complex, closing the small gate behind her before turning to face him.

“Hmm? Are you planning to come in once, or a few times?” Meng Ying smiled softly, her tone light. But Xu Dian could hear the underlying threat. He stopped in his tracks, the cigarette still between his lips, his hands in his pockets, his expression dark. He tried to explain, “She’s the daughter of the Wen family. We have business with them…”

“No need to explain.”

Meng Ying waved him off.

“Goodnight, Mr. Xu.” With that, she turned and walked into the building.

Her graceful figure was like that rainy night.

Xu Dian plucked the cigarette from his lips, crushed it, and glanced back at the Bentley. The car door opened, and Wen Yao peeked out, looking at him with a hint of injustice..

But he only gave her a brief glance before turning back to his own car. He slid into the back seat, leaned back, and closed his eyes, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

His brow was furrowed with coldness.

Jiang Yi hesitated for a moment. He had just recognized the woman in the Bentley—she was the one from the documents Xu Dian had sent him earlier that evening.

The daughter of the Wen family.

“Mr. Xu?” Jiang Yi prompted cautiously.

Xu Dian didn’t respond, his eyes still closed, his expression unreadable. The car remained silent as Jiang Yi drove off, leaving the Bentley and its occupant behind.

**How to handle it?**

“Tell her to get lost.”

The man didn’t open his eyes, but his tone was as cold as ice.

Jiang Yi: “…Alright.”

With that, he pushed open the car door, straightened his shirt collar, and let out a breath. The atmosphere in the car had been strange, and the distance from the show venue to Xinyue Community was so short that he hadn’t noticed the Bentley following them. Walking around the car, Jiang Yi made his way step by step toward the Bentley.

The car door was already open.

Wen Yao’s long legs were already on the ground, as if she wasn’t sure whether to step out or not. When she saw Jiang Yi approaching, her eyes lit up.

Jiang Yi walked up to her, smiled, and said, “Miss Wen, Happy New Year. Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve. I’ll pick you up from your hotel tomorrow morning. It’s late tonight, so why don’t you head back and rest?”

He was politely telling her to “get lost.”

He hoped she would understand.

The female secretary in the driver’s seat glanced back at Jiang Yi, her gaze slightly sharp. Jiang Yi smiled at the secretary as well, maintaining a respectful demeanor.

Wen Yao hesitated for a moment and said, “Can’t he take me back now?”

“Mr. Xu has been busy all evening and is very tired.”

“Is he really that tired? I saw him kissing that beautiful woman, but they’re not in a relationship, are they?”

“They were kissing, Miss Wen. Don’t you think that means something?” Jiang Yi explained patiently. Xu Dian could tell her to get lost, but he couldn’t. He had to maintain a polite attitude. The Xu Group had recently collaborated with the Wen family on several projects, and Miss Wen couldn’t be offended. Wen Yao shook her head, took out her phone, opened a Weibo post, and showed it to Jiang Yi.

“Look.”

Jiang Yi glanced politely.

The official Weibo account of Huaying Entertainment V: For now, just friends!

The six words were glaringly obvious.

Jiang Yi: “…”

Can Weibo be trusted?

Why don’t you look at the previous hot search?? The previous hot search is the real deal.

“Miss Wen.”

He spoke again, his voice carrying a hint of helplessness, even a small plea.

“Fine, I’ll go back to the hotel. Tell Xu Dian that until he’s married, I won’t give up. Before marriage, which man hasn’t had one or two girlfriends?” Wen Yao said, then closed the car door. After closing it, she rolled down the window again and handed her phone to Jiang Yi. “Add me on WeChat.”

Jiang Yi paused for a moment before taking out his work phone and scanning her QR code.

As he left, he still said, “Miss Wen, Mr. Xu is different with Miss Meng this time.”

You have to believe me!

“Is that so? Then I’ll wait and see.” Wen Yao’s expression showed she didn’t believe it at all.

Her two brothers had been madly in love before marriage, but when it came time to marry, their wives weren’t the ones they had been so crazy about.

With that, she rolled up the window.

The Bentley started and drove off, passing by the black car. Wen Yao looked inside and caught a glimpse of the man’s handsome face through the windshield, shrouded in cigarette smoke, somewhat obscure but undeniably sexy. She watched until her neck hurt, then leaned back in her seat, her expression unhappy.

The secretary in the driver’s seat glanced at her and said calmly, “Didn’t you say you didn’t like him before? Why the sudden change of heart?”

When Wen Yao had come to Licheng, she was supposed to go directly to the Xu family, but she didn’t want to run into Xu Dian, whom her father had approved of, so she chose to stay at a hotel instead. She hadn’t even looked at his photo.

“I ran into him on the plane. He’s so handsome, and also, so gentle.” Her status gave her a sense of superiority, so even though she knew Xu Dian might have a complicated relationship with another woman, she still wanted to try her luck. She had asked for his WeChat but didn’t get it, so she gave up. However, when he posted on Weibo saying he and that actress were just friends for now, it gave her hope again.

Jiang Yi stood there for a while longer before sighing and walking back to the black car.

To be honest.

Since he started working for Mr. Xu, aside from the few women Mr. Xu had personally dismissed, he had lost count of how many women he had had to turn away on Mr. Xu’s behalf.

Most young ladies from wealthy families were reserved, but there were always a few who were persistent, not to mention the numerous female celebrities, white-collar workers, and all sorts of charming girls. Some went all out—bringing breakfast, making desserts, throwing extravagant parties for his birthday, even proposing with hot air balloons. Some even bought clothes matching his to create a couple’s look.

There was even one who got drunk and tried to sneak into his room.

If it weren’t for the fact that Mr. Xu’s parents never interfered with their son’s love life, Xu Dian could have been set up on at least three blind dates a day, with no breaks in between.

Having witnessed all this firsthand, Jiang Yi had always believed that the kind of love and the kind of woman Mr. Xu wanted would come easily, almost as if he could just beckon and they would come. That’s why he never seemed to cherish these relationships.

Someone like Mr. Xu was born at the finish line.

Sure enough.

Look at how he treated Miss Meng—a year ago, he didn’t cherish or value her.

But now…

…it seems like the tables have turned?

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